“The Kazakh language: sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic research” educational and experimental laboratory was created by Professor E. D. Suleimenova (2000). From the first day, Professor Gregory Thomson (University of Alberta, Canada) and Professor Nursulu Zhamalbekovna Shaimerdenova (L. N. Gumilyov ENU, Astana) have worked as freelance scientific consultants in the laboratory.  

By the decision of the Academic Council of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (order No. 690 dated from 30.12.2019), the laboratory was renamed “Sociolinguistics, theory and practice of translation” and transferred to the Department of Foreign Philology and Translation Studies (Head of the Department M. M. Aimagambetova).  

Principal researcher - Doctor of Philology, academician of IHEAS, Honorary Professor of PSU, member of the Council of the INTAS Scientists, member of the Scientific Expert Council of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, member of the International Committee of Slavists, member of the Presidium of International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature, President of Kazakhstani Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature, academic director of “Language Flagship” KazNU – ACCELS (American Councils for international Education) programme, Professor at the Department of Foreign Philology and Translation Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University - ELEONORA SULEIMENOVA

Leading researcher - Doctor of Philology, Professor at the Department of Philology at M.V. Lomonosov MSU; Honorary Professor at Sh.Ualikhanov KSU, member of the Scientific Expert Council of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, member of the Programme Committee of Kazakhstani Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature, Professor at the Department of Russian Philology and International Literature at Al-Farabi KazNU - NURSULU SHAIMERDENOVA  

Freelance scientific consultant - Ph.D., Slavic Languages and Literatures (Harvard University), Vice-President of International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature, academician of the Russian Academy of Education and the Ukrainian Academy of Education, Head of the Academic Committee for the study of world languages, Chairman of the Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL), Chairman of the Alliance for international educational and cultural exchange, Honorary Professor at universities of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Professor Emeritus at Bryn Mawr University, Director of the ACCELS Research Centre, Honorary President and co-founder of ACTR/ACCELS American Councils for International Education - DAN DAVIDSON

Freelance scientific consultant - Candidate of Philological Sciences in Language Theory (“Language planning: typology and models”, Al-Farabi KazNU), Ph.D. in Sociolinguistic (“Language shift and revival in Kazakhstan: A multi-level analysis”, King’s College London), Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities at Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research (KIMEP) - ZHULDYZ SMAGULOVA

MAJOR ACTIVITIES

The laboratory carries out fundamental and applied research, develops expert opinions in the field of language policy and language planning, creates practical recommendations for translation, ensures the connection of scientific research with the educational process, attracting students of all levels, teachers and young scientists to its work.

Research direction: innovative research, developments in the field of sociolinguistics and translation theory, dissemination and popularization of research results, development of the Kazakhstan school of sociolinguistics and translation theory in cooperation with foreign partners, organization and holding of international and national scientific forums of various formats, etc.

Educational direction: close connection with the educational process and introduction of theoretical, educational-methodical, educational-lexicographic and other materials into the educational process, reading assembly lectures at Kazakh and foreign universities, conducting national and international “School of sociolinguistics”, “School of a translator”, seminars, webinars on functional literacy in the field of language policy and translation practice, implementing self-funded additional certification educational programs, as well as intensive language training programs.

Image direction: promoting the brand of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, informing about scientific achievements and competitive advantages of the laboratory, supporting international cooperation with image work, inviting foreign specialists for scientific and educational activities, conducting scientific and educational events on topical issues of language policy, language conflicts, etc.

Software and information support of the laboratory

The laboratory is equipped with the following computer programs: PRAAT, VARBRUL, STATVIEW, SUPERANOVA, SPSS, DMASTER (DMDX), ePRIME, CLAN, SIL Phonetics Package, etc. Research is carried out by corpus, experimental, observational and empirical methods.

International and national scientific research projects

13 international (INTAS, ACCELS, Lomonosov Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, RUDN University - The Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, MSLU, etc.) and 17 national fundamental and applied research projects (MES RK, MIC RK, APK, “Atameken” NCE RK) have successfully been completed on the extensive database of mass questionnaires and interviews, data from sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic field experiments.